Submitted by Mary Ann and Carol Tisdall
A full house gathered at the Creating Centre in Vankleek Hill on Wednesday, March 18, for historian David Stringer’s presentation, Canada’s Northwest Passage: Exploration, Climate Change and a Future Global Shipping Route. The evening was both informative and engaging, building on the enthusiasm sparked by his popular Ancient Egypt talk last fall.
Stringer thanked Champlain librarian Karin Dierckx for helping make the event possible and acknowledged family and friends who travelled from Montréal, Lancaster, Alexandria, Osgoode and Gatineau to attend. Their presence added to the warm, community atmosphere in the room.
Throughout the presentation, Stringer guided the audience through centuries of Arctic exploration, from early European attempts to reach the Indies to the journeys of Roald Amundsen, Henry Larsen and the ill-fated Franklin expedition. He highlighted the courage of those who charted the passage and explained the role of Rupert’s Land and the Hudson’s Bay Company in shaping Canada’s North.
Shifting to the present day, Stringer spoke about the rapid changes taking place in the Arctic, including melting ice and its impact on Inuit communities and wildlife. He also touched on growing international interest in the Northwest Passage as a future global shipping route, stressing the importance of protecting the region as geopolitical pressures increase.
Audience members praised Stringer’s ability to cover such a wide range of material with clarity, humour and an engaging storytelling style. Many noted how he made a complex topic accessible and interesting, even as it spanned centuries of history.
The Creating Centre, working in partnership with the Champlain Library, continues to serve as a hub for community learning. Events like this highlight the strong local interest in coming together to explore new ideas and perspectives.
